The inaugural Synergy Sunrise Run was a roaring success.
The run took place May 10 and featured a 5 km run or walk. There were 350 registered participants for the run, which held its starting line at Holy Rosary High School.
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The event aims to support mental health initiatives in the community.
“We know the correlation between physical activity, running and just getting out and being with your community and mental health,” said Stephanie Munro, CEO of the Lloydminster Region Health Foundation.
Munro says the proceeds raised from the event go directly into mental health initiatives in Lloydminster.
“We have project sunrise which is a mental health initiative,” she said.
The turnout saw a sea of blue shirts gather at the starting line to either run or walk.
“Seeing these hundreds of people that are coming here to join in on a movement that is so much bigger than just one person is really inspiring,” said Munro. “This is the first, inaugural year and I foresee it to continue to grow and grow over the next few years.”
The title sponsor, Synergy Credit Union, sees the need for mental health support in the community.
“We as an organization see the growing need,” said Trevor Beaton, Synergy Credit Union CEO.
The aim for Synergy was to help get the initiative going.
“Synergy’s always had a bit of a history of can we help start something,” said Beaton. “We made a three-year commitment of $50,000 a year to this run to really get it going.”
Get it going they did as the event reached its $5,000 goal days before the run took place. Synergy committed to being the naming sponsor over the next three years.
“It’s what amazes me constantly about the Lloydminster community and area is how individuals and businesses step up time after time,” said Beaton.
Those looking to support can still donate.
“You can go to lrhf.ca/donate and you can actually choose the sunrise run to donate directly to or to project sunrise,” said Munro.
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